Animal-trapl



(No Model.)

' E. L. MGGLAIN.

.ANIMAL TRAP.

110.431,122. Patented July' 1, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. McoLAIN, or GEEENFIELD, oHIo.

ANIMAL-TRAP:

4 SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,122, dated July1, 1890.

Application filed March 13, 1890. Serial No. 343,709. (No model.)

State ojf Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAnimal-Traps; and I do hereby decla-re the following to be a full,clem?, and exact description of the invention, reference being had tothe annexed drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention comprises certain improvements in the construction ofanimal-traps, the details of said improvements being hereinafter morefully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of my animal-trapin its normal position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing thetrap in the act of being set. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the trapafter being set and baited. Fig. t is an enlarged sectional elevation ofthe hinge-plate and its accessories. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a-portion of a modified form of the trap. Fig.

6 is a sectionized plan of the slotted guardplate. Fig. 7 is a sideelevation of said plate.

A represents` the base or stationary member of the trap, which base hasa central and longitudinal slot a, that is preferably formed by thecheeks B B of a guard-plate C, the latter being perforated at c to admitscrews D, wherewith said plate is secured to the upper surface of base Aand at one end thereof. Cheeks B B are pierced transversely, as seen ath b in Fig. 6, to admit a pivot e, wherewith the angular lug E-ofhinge-plate F is jointed tosaid cheeks.k ff', in Fig. 4, are screws thatfasten this plate to the lower end of a vertical standard G, theopposite extremities of said plate being provided with integralcylindrical sockets II II', that admit the spring-coils /L' t of a wirebow or frame I, which latter may be furnished with a wire net-work .I,so as to form a iiap that will the more effectually imprison the animalor other intruder. The extreme inner ends of coils t t" are so fastenedto the plate F as to cause the bow or frame I to bear upon the base Awith considerable pressure.

K K are plate-springs, the fixed ends of which are attached to the baseA, while their free ends traverse staples 7.@ la of standard G, andthereby maintain said standard in its normal or erect position.Furthermore, this standard has pivoted to it at Z a trigger L, the lowerend'of which takes the shape of a bait-hook Z', the principal portion ofsaid trigger being preferably housed within a groove M, whose lower endcommunicates with a pit m to accommodate the bait N. When the trap is inits normal position, as seen in Fig. l, the stress of springs K K causesthe hinged standard G to be vertical, while at the same time the coilsz' t hold the bow I down tightly against the base A; but the trap can beset in a few minutes by proceeding as follows: The upper or free end ofstandard G is swung forward either by hand or foot, thereby graduallyovercoming the tension of springs K K and causing said standardl toassume the practically horizontal position seen in Fig. 2, in whichposition the trigger L readily engages with the bow or frame I. Pressurebeing then removed from the standard, it is automatically restored toitserect position by the springs K K', the guard-plate C preventing thehinge-plate F cutting into the upper surface of base A. This elevationof the standard imparts considerable extra tension to the coils i z" andsets the trap in such a condition as to enable it to perform prompt andeffective servicethe instant any animal meddles with the bait Nsuspended from the hook Z. The least tug at the bait disengages thetrigger L from the bow I,

which latter immediately swings down as far as possible and imprisonsthe intruder between said bow and the base A, which imprisonment isrendered more effective with mice and other small animals by providingsaid bow with the wire net-work J but when the trap is made exclusivelyfor large animals this net is omitted.

The spring or springs for automatically restoring the standard toitserect position may be modified to suit circumstances, a coiled `springbeing seen in Fig. 3, which spring has extensions o o secured,respectively, to base A and standard G. With this construction the lug Eand pivot c could be dispensed with, as a pair of springs similar to thedevice O o o" would aiford the only hinge nec- IOO Finally, I do notclaim the broad idea of a' standard hinged to a base and having atrigger that engages with a spring boW or flap when said standard isturned down to a hori,

zontal position, but I do claim, broadly, a spring or springs forautomatically restoring the standard to'its normal position, prol,

vided said spring is separate and independent from the spring-bow orchoker.

I claim as my invention-- l. The combination, in an animal-trap, ofabase and swinging standard coupled thereto, a spring-bow applied to thebase of said standard, a trigger pivoted near the top of the latter andadapted to engage with said bow, and an independent spring thatautomatically restores said standard to its normal position,substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, in an animal-trap, of a base and a standard coupledtogether, .the latter being provided with a trigger and spring bow orframe, which engages With said trigger when the trap is set, and a pairof independent springs K K,.having their fixed ends secured to said baseand their free ends inserted Within staples 7c k of said standard, asherein described.

3. In combination with an animal-trap of the class specified, thehinge-plate F, having an angular lug E for the reception of the pivot e,and a pair of integral sockets I-I H', that admit the coils 'L' t" ofthe spring bow or frame I, as herein described.

Ll. In combination with an animal-trap consisting of the base A andswinging'standard G, coupled thereto by the hinge-plate E F, theguard-plate C, secured to the upper surface of said base and havingparallel cheeks B B', which are perforated horizontally at b b andseparated by a central vertical slot a, that admits the angular lug E ofsaid hingeplate, said lug and perforations being traversed by the pivote, all as herein described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

EDVARD L. MCCLAIN.

lVitnesses:

P. K. DAvrs, A. E. MOCLAIN.

